Help picking a scope

C_staz

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Just picked up a Browning X-Bolt max LR in 6.5 creedmoor at the local DSG.

had it marked down $300, and then an extra 25% on top of it..so I thought to myself…I like to spend money, why the hell not..screw being responsible..the GF will totally understand. Lol
Soooo now, I guess I need a scope. Anyone have some recommendations? Not trying to kill my wallet.

thanks!
 
C_staz

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Going to be using it for deer, hopefully some elk this year..I’d like to have something where I can practice long distance..and Dicks Sporting Goods..
 
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Varwin

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How far are we talking when we say long range? What's your budget?

You say you want it for both hunting and long range. Generally hunting and long range are opposite use cases. For hunting you want it as light as possible to be able to carry around more easily and give up some accuracy as a result, while for long range you want it to be heavy to offset recoil and to focus strictly on functionally.
 
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Varwin said:
How far are we talking when we say long range? What's your budget?

You say you want it for both hunting and long range. Generally hunting and long range are opposite use cases. For hunting you want it as light as possible to be able to carry around more easily and give up some accuracy as a result, while for long range you want it to be heavy to offset recoil and to focus strictly on functionally.
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I’d like to get more familiar and practice with longer range shooting..figure up to 500 yds or so..I’d like to keep it in the 2-300 dollar range I honestly never have had a rifle with longer range capabilities or the knowledge. Hoping to change that..as far as hunting I have other options if I can’t have the best of both worlds.
 
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C_staz

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GTN said:
Not sure where you located but Sportsman Warehouse has Vortex scopes on sale all of July
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I’m in Middletown NY
Been looking at the Arken from your last post..
How do you like it?
 
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Varwin

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That's not a lot for a scope, but luckily that's also not exactly long range. If you insist on a sub300 new scope for 500yds, I would probably go with a vortex crossfire. At that price point, I would suggest something secondhand - scopes that are MSRP <300 aren't really worth using beyond 200yds in my opinion. I mean, my diamondback 4-16x is like 450 MSRP and while it's actually really good for my rimfire for 50-100yds, it's barely acceptable to me at 200yds.

If I can stretch your budget just a bit, a Bushnell match pro would be my recommendation at 400 MSRP, easily find one used for ~300. The standard recommendation for entering the long range world is the upgrade to that, the Bushnell match pro ED at MSRP 700. That product line is probably the best value for the money in the scope world.

Arkens are best if you want a lot of features for the price, at the cost of slightly worse glass. The glass is the most expensive part of the scope, so if they skimp on that just a little, they can put a lot of extra stuff on the scope. If you're not familiar with nice glass and honestly you don't care that much (not an insult in any way, a lot of people just don't care about glass quality) then Arkens are a good choice, especially for beginners. It's kinda like putting a cheap Toyota engine in a high end Lexus and selling it for real cheap. If you're not a car guy, you probably won't notice the engine and now you have what looks and feels like a Lexus with the bells and whistles at a huge discount, even if it wouldn't perform at the same level - but if you're not racing, who REALLY cares how powerful the engine is if it gets you to highway speeds?
 
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Bustedknees

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I don't believe heavy tactical scopes cross over to good scopes to hunt with. At $200-300 price range I'd stick a Leupold Freedom 3-9 on it. Push it to $600 and you'll find some really nice glass that will be clear and you'll see your target at longer distances.
Amazon Prime Day starts tomorrow , might be deals to be had.
 
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C_staz said:
I’m in Middletown NY
Been looking at the Arken from your last post..
How do you like it?
Click to expand...
I like it but I’m new to long range. Unfortunately I haven’t had time to stretch its legs even to 200 yards yet.
From what I’ve read the ep5 glass is better than the earlier versions. The scopes are chinese but the glass is produced in Japan. They have a great warranty and a price point I could justify. I can afford more but for my needs it works. I will say it’s heavy. They do have a lighter version but I don’t know anything about it.
Lots of reviews on youtube so check those out
 
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